
Issue No 19		25 June 1999

Letters to the Editor

Freedom of Choice - What About Tax?

There has been much debate and discussion in recent years about tax reform. However there is one major issue in the taxation area that has been overlooked. That is, should the payment of taxation to governments be compulsory?

People are often forced into paying taxation, usually by compliant employers deducting it directly from workers wages and sending the money off to the federal tax office. Generally when workers start a new job they are pressured into signing authorities for this to occur even though they really do not want to. Now the federal government is to force the payment of taxation through shopkeepers.

It is well overdue for there to be a greater degree of freedom for the people of Australia and for a higher level of accountability for state and federal governments. Most people are well and truly sick of the stand over tactics of governments and the interference by them in their basic freedoms. For far too long governments have in this area enjoyed a privileged position protected from the disciplines of competition.

People should be free to choose whether or not they will pay taxation to state of federal governments. To protect this freedom of choice special laws should be introduced at both the federal and state level that includes heavily penalties for breaches. To be even handed and fair, the penalties should apply both to the victimisation of those who voluntarily choose to pay tax as well as those who choose not to pay tax.

As a part of the reform process the government should set up an Office of Taxation Advocate to police the new laws. The OTA could also conduct surveys on peoples attitudes on such aspects as compulsory taxation and on whether they think the government gives them good value for their tax dollar. OTA should run major media campaigns to inform people of their new rights to voluntary taxation.

If introduced the freedom of choice and competition will force the state and federal governments to maximise their efforts and performance. If they do a good job by running the country or the state effectively and behaving properly in parliament people will no doubt happily pay taxes. If they do not do a good job people will find alternative providers for the services the want.

Tax is of course in practice is largely optional for the rich and large companies. They unfortunately exercise that option a pay little tax. Average PAYE workers should have the same freedoms.

Labor Council should actively campaign for this new freedom. It will no doubt receive widespread support throughout the community.

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Issue 19 contents

Interview: Moore for the Battlers
NCOSS director Garry Moore gives the community sector's response to this week's State Budget

Unions: AWU's Bush Blitz
"This is AWU Country". That's the slogan for the Australian Workers Union as it launches its campaign to address the specific needs of workers throughout regional and rural Australia.

Indigenous: Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
A United Nations committee slams Australia on indigenous native title rights.

International: Unions Post-War Stand
The world labour group demands KFOR track war-crimes authors and says social dimension central to Balkan reconstruction.

History: How Swede It Was
Swedish seafarers play an important role in South Australia's maritime history.

Review: If He Had Only Listened To Me ...
If Michael Thompson had listened to me the current debate raging in the nation�s opinion pages about his book may not have been as hysterical.

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